July 26: walk to Castell de Montjuïc – Mirador de l'Alcalde

Just below the Castell is my favorite place in Barcelona, the Mirador de l'Alcalde ("Mayor's Outlook"), which I had discovered long before on runs to the Castell.

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The Mirador is paved throughout with an ever-varying mosaic of stone, brick, and other materials, designed by Joan-Josep Tharrats i Vidal. It was constructed through the 1960s.

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This pigeon thinks it's a nice spot too.

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The bottles are a neat touch, as are the striped medallions in the middle of the cobblestone discs.

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Of course, it wouldn't be a Mirador without a view...

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...and a view there certainly is.

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In addition, you can see straight down the cliffy hillside to the port.

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The Mirador comprises multiple plazas stepping up the slope, arrayed around this gentle waterfall.

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I particularly like the use of gears, very glyphic with their simple dark forms against the light concrete.

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Tan, green, and azure.

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The larger-scale elements of the paving are really cool too, not just the small details.

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Green plants, green water.

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Don't slip!

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Brick sun.

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Sun cones.

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The primal and well-shaded Homenatge a Barcelona by Josep Maria Subirachs, with some careful statue and cablecar composition in the background at left.

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Another careful cablecar composition.

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Through the woods downslope is a surreal apparition of the port.

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The final climb up to the grounds of the Castell.